Riding beet-puller.



Patented Apr. 2; 1918.

3 SHEETS'SHEET I- w? T m m W. S. GRAHAM.

RIDING BEET FULLER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-8. 19.11.

I 3 SHEETS-r-SHEET 2- v I l mlllmlllNlINIlNlHnm mlllllll llllll I Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

w. s. GRAHAM.

RIDING BEET FULLER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-8| I917.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WI LIAM s. GRAHAM, or CANTON, ILLINOIS, AssIGNon T rAnLIN & ORENDORFF COMPANY, or cANroN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOiS.

RIDING BEET-PULLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

Application filed August 8, 1917. Serial No. 185,025.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM Si GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident [of Canton, in the county of Fulton, State of drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in agricultural implements and particularly to that type of wheeled devices used in pulling beets. It is desirable in such machines that the draft tongue be permitted movements independent of the frame of the machine when the machine is in operation but that it be locked to such frame at other times. It is the leading object of my invention to provide improved means for controlling the tongue, and to improvegenerally the construction and operation of machines of the type referred to. by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawings and are hereinafter specifically described. That which Ibelieve to be new and desire to cover by this application is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved beet puller, showing the parts in the position they occupy when the machine is in operation' Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the parts in position for transportation;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bracket mounted upon the transversely-extendilrg rock-shaft by which the tongue is held against lateral swinging relative to the frame when the front carrying wheels are held in raised position.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters,

10 indicates an elongated U-bar forming the principal portion of the frame of the machine, the rear ends of the bar 10 being joined together by means of aheavy yoke or arch 11, the ends of the arch 11 being located on the'inner faces of the ends of the bar 10. Standards 1213 are mounted upon the rear ends of the frame lO upon the outer faces thereof, as is best shown in Fig. 3, the

standards 12-13 being substantially in The preferred means .alinement with the end portions of the arch 11. The archll and the standards 1213 are connected to the ends of the frame 10 by means of bolts 14, and bolts 15 pass through the standards 12-13 and the ends of the yoke 11 below the frame 10. By suitably I tightening the bolts 15, the standards 1213 are adapted to be adjusted laterally of the framework toward and from each other, the pressure of the bolts 15 being adapted to force the standards inward toward the ends of the arch 11, as will be readily understood. The standards 1213 are provided at their lower ends with lifting blades 16 of any suitable type adapted to pass under a beet for raising it from the ground, as is fully understood in the art. Diagonally-extending bars 16 are provided, connected with the standards 1213 and with the sides of the frame 10 for bracing the standards rigidly in position.

A wheel arch 17 is mounted upon the frame 10 by means of bearing brackets 18 which permit the carrying wheels l920 revolubly mounted upon the offset end portions of said arch to be moved up and down relative to the frame 10 by an appropriate swinging of said arch relative to the frame. In the construction shown, the arch 17 is adapted to be swung relative to the frame 10 by means of a bell-crank lever 21 pivotally mounted upon one of the brackets 18 and connected with one of the arms of said arch by means of a link 22 and a bracket 23, as is best shown in Fig. 3. The lever 21 is adapted to be adjusted along an arc-shaped rack-bar 2d for holding the wheel arch 17 in the desired adjusted position, as will be readily understood; A spring 25 connected at'its rear end to one arm portion of the arch 17 and connected at its other end to the frame 10 in front of said arch tends to hold means of a bolt 40. Diagonallyextending brace bars 41-42 connect the bars 39 with the outer end portions of the bar 35, as is best shown in Fig. 3. By the construction just described, the front carrying wheels 2627 are adapted to be turned at an angle relative to the frame 10, this being accomplished by the lateral swinging of the seat 38 about the pin 36 as an axis. As will be readily understood, when the seat 38 "is shifted toward the wheel 19, the bar 35 is given a movement in clockwise direction-in Fig. 3, serving, by pushing action upon one of the bars 34 and pulling action upon the.

other bar 34, to swing the arms 31 of both axle members 28 likewise in clockwise direction in Fig. 3, whereby the carrying wheels :26 and 27 are turned at an angle relative to the frame 10 so as to cause the frame 10 to shift toward the right hand side of the operator in position on the seat 38. For readily effecting a swinging of the seat 38 toward either side as may be desired, foot rests 43 are provided, secured in any suitable manner upon the rear portion of the frame 10.

Means are provided for mounting a tongue 44 upon the frame 10, comprising an arch or yoke 45 the downwardly extending arms of which are pivotally connected to the frame 10 by means of bolts 46 whereby the tongue and the arch 45 are free to swing up and down relative to the frame. The tongue 44 is connected to the arch 45 by means of a bolt 47 passin through the tongue and through a brace bar 48 extending under the arch 45, the tongue 44 being adapted to swing laterally relative to the frame 10 about the bolt 47 as an axis. Draft devices of any suitable type, comprising in the construction shown an evener 49, are connected to the forward portion of the frame 10 in any suitable manner. In the construction shown, in which the evener 49 is adapted for two horses, the tongue 44 and the evener 49 are located at the center of the machine, but it will be understood that if desired an evener of any other suitable type may .be employed, being given a position upon the frame to correspond to the type of device used, as is fully understood .in the implement art.

While it is important to the best operation of my improved machine that the tongue 44 the frame when the lifting blades 16 are in it is deoperative position, at which time in order sired to shift the frame laterally to follow the row of beets being operated upon, it is desirable that at other 'nmes the tongue be held against lateral swinging. To this end I have provideda lever 50 mounted and connected, as hereinafter described, for effecting an adjustment offlcooperating parts for holding the tongue 44 under certain circumstances against swinging laterally relative to the frame. The lever 50 is fixedly mounted upon a rockshaft 51 revolubly mounted. between the upper end portions of the diagonally-extending brace bars 16, be ing adapted to be locked in adjusted position by means of suitable latch devices operating in connection with an arcshaped rack-bar 52 fixedly held in position upon the framework. Nonrotatably mounted upon the rock-shaft 51 in position opposite the end of the tongue 44 is a bracket 53 having pivotally connected to its forward end a downwardlyextending link 54. The pivotal connection of the link to the bracket is to be made quite loose so as to permit of a considerable amount of lateral play of the link when the machine is in working position as inFig. 1. The lower end of this link passes through an opening in a bar 55 that is fastened to and projects rearwardly from the tongue 44, such opening being of a size to freely admit the link without causing any binding of the link therein. The link being thus loosely attached in place at both its upper and lower ends offers no obstruction to the normal lateral and vertical swing of the tongue. It is held against withdrawal from the opening in the tonguestrap 55 by a pin 56 (see Fig. 2). When, however, independent movement of the tongue is to be prevented, as when the machine is in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2, a backward stroke of the lever 50 to the position shown in. said figure, will cause a rocking of the bar 51 and the bracket 53 attached thereto, which draws up the link and of course causes at raising of the rear end of the tongue relative to the frame. Such movement brings the rear end of the strap 55 that is rigidly attached to the tongue into contact with an arm 57 that depends from the bracket 53 and is best made integral therewith, (See Fig. 4). In this position the pin 56 and the arm 57 hold the tongue against independent vertical movement, and it is securely held against independent lateral movement, by two guard fingers 58 carried by the said bracket, and, like the arm 57, preferably formed with'the bracket. These two guard fingers are arranged opposite each other but diverge from each other in two directions, vizj, along their forward edges they diverge from the upper to the lower ends and from the main or body portion of the bracket they diverge to. their forward or outer edges. At their rear parts where they merge into the body portion of the bracket they are separated by a space but little wider than the thickness of the link 5% whereby such link, when drawn up between the said fingers as in Fig. 2, will be firmly held against lateral mo ement and of nourse will hold the tongue locked against such'movement. When, however, the parts of the machineare in operative position as shown in Fi 1, the bracket 53 will be swung to such a position as tocause the fingers to moveaway and almost clear the link 54:, and thereafter the tongue will be free to have the required independent move ments as described. By reason of the ways in which these fingers diverge from each other, as described, they offer no obstruction to the required lateral movement of the link as it moves with the tongue. As will be readily understood, the movement .of the rear end of the tongue let upward relative to the frame 10 upon the downward movement of the lever 50, as above described,

serves to raise the forward end of the frame,

resulting in the raising of the carrying Wheels 2627 out of contact with the ground. The bracket 53 is secured in position upon the rock-shaft 51 by means of a set screw 59 so as to be adjustable along the rock-shaft to accommodate any changed position of the tongues-4E in case a different form of evener is used as above suggested.

If desired, when an odd number of horses is employed to draw the machine, the bracket and tongue may be shifted bodily to ward one side of the machine and there secured, the bracket by its set-screw to therock-shaft 51 and the tongue by having its bolt d7 passed through a suitable hole in the arch or yoke 45-a bolt hole for that purpose being shown near the right hand end of the yoke or arch in Fig. 3.

By the provision of my improved means for adjusting the lifting blades 16 laterally relative to each other, I have provided a construction in which aiiipleclearance space is other point, and means for locking the tongue against lateral movement in either of its said ad usted positions, said locking means comprising a member that is bodily shiftable laterally of the frame to correspond to such bodily shifting of the tongue.

2. In an agricultural implement, the combination of 'a frame, a tongue pivotally mounted on a horizontal and also on a vertical axis on said frame whereby the tongue is adapted to swing vertically and laterally relative to the frame when the machine is in operation, and means for locking the tongue against vertical and lateral swinging relative to the frame for transportation of the machine.

3. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, a tongue connected with said frame and adapted to swing both laterally and vertically relative thereto when the machine is in operation, and means for locking the tongue against swinging in either of said directions relative to the frame for tnnsportation of the machine.

it. In an agricultural implement, the com bination' of a frame, a tongue pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to swing laterally relative thereto when the machine is in operation and shiftable laterally relative to the frame to accommodate diverse draft conditions, and means adapted for locking the tongue against lateral swinging relative to the frame for transportation of the machine inwhatever adjusted position the tongue may stand laterally of the frame.

ln'an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, a tongue pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to swing laterally relative thereto when the machine is in operation and shiftable laterally relative to the frame to accommodate diverse draft conditions, and laterally adjustable means for locking the tongue in its adjusted position against lateral swinging relative to the frame for transportation of the machine.

6. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, a tongue pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to swing relative thereto when the machine is in operation, a bracket movably mounted relative to said frame, means adapted upon a movement of said bracket in one direction to lock said tongue against svinging relative to the frame, and means for giving said bracket an operative locking movement.

7. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, a tongue pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to swing laterally relative thereto when the machine is in operation and sniftable laterally relative to the frame to accommodate diverse draft conditions, a bracket movably mounted on said frame in any of, a plurality frame, and means for giving saidbracket an operative locking movement. 7

8. In an agricultural. implement, the combination of a frame, a tongue pivetally mounted on said frame and adapted to swing laterally relative thereto when the machine is in operation and shiftable laterally relative to the frame to accommodate diverse draft conditions, a rock-shaft extending transversely of said frame, means adjustably mounted on said rock-shaft adapted upon an appropriate turning of the rock-shaft to lock said tongue against swinging relative to the frame, and means for givin g said'rock-shaft an operative rocking movement.

9. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, a tongue pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to swing laterally relative thereto when the machine is in operation and shiftable laterally relative to the frame to accommodate diverse draft conditions, a rock-shaft extending transversely of said frame, a bracket adjustable laterally along said rockshaft, means adapted upon a swinging movement of said bracket in one direction about said rock-shaft to lock said tongue against swinging relative to the frame, and a lever for giving said bracket an operative swinging movement.

10. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, rear carrying wheels connected therewith, other carrying wheels near the forward end of the frame, a vertically and laterally swinging tongue connected with the frame, and means for simultaneously locking said tongue against turning in either direction and raising said front carrying wheels out of contact with the ground.

11. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, carrying wheels journalcd on the rear end portion of said frame, other carrying wheels journaled on the front end portion of the frame, a tongue mounted on said frame and adapted to swing laterally relative thereto, and means for moving the frame relative to the tongue for raising the front carrying wheels out of contact with the ground and at the same time locking the tongue against lateral swinging relative to the frame.

' 12. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, carrying wheels journaled on the rear end portion of said frame, other carrying wheels journaled on the front end portion of the frame, a tongue mounted on said frame and adapted to swing both laterally and vertically relative thereto, and means for swinging said tongue vertically relative to said frame serving normally to raise the front carrying wheels out of contact with the ground and serving at combination of a frame, carrying wheels journaled on the'rear end portion of said frame, other carrying wheels journal-ed on the front end portion of said frame and adapted to be turned laterally at an angle relative to the frame, a tongue mounted on said frame and adapted to swing laterally relative thereto, means for turning said front carrying wheels laterally relative to the frame to cause the frame to move angularly relative to the tongue, and means for moving the frame relative to the tongue for raising the front carrying wheels out of contact with the ground serving at the same time to lock the tongue against swinging laterally relative to the frame.

1a. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, a tongue pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to swing relative thereto when the machine is in operation, a bracket movably mounted relative to said frame, said bracket comprising means adapted upon a movement of said bracket in one direction to embrace a part of said tongue for locking the tongue against lateral swinging, and means for giving said bracket an operative locking movement.

15. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, a tongue pivetally mounted on said frame and adapted to swing relative thereto when the machine is in operation, a bracket movably mounted relative to said frame, a connection between said bracket and said tongue adapted in one position of said bracket to permit free lateral swinging of the tongue relative to the frame, said bracket comprising means adapted upon a movement of said bracket in one direction to embrace said connection for locking the tongue against lateral swinging relative to the frame, and means for giving said'bracket an operative locking movement.

16. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, a tongue pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to swing relative thereto when the machine is in operation, a bracket pivotally mounted on said frame and having two bars spaced apart thereon, a connection between said bracket and said tongue adapted in one position of said bracket to permit free lateral swinging of the tongue relative to the frame, and means for swinging said bracket to bring said connection between said spaced bars to lock the tongue against swinging laterally relative to the frame.

17 In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, a tongue mounted on said frame and adapted to swing both vertically and laterally relative thereto, a bracket movably mounted on said frame and having two bars spaced apart thereon, a link connecting sald bracket and said tongue adapted in one pos1t1on of said bracket to permit free lateral swinging of the tongue relative to the frame, and means for moving said bracket relative to said frame for bringing said link between said spaced bars to lock the tongue against swin ing laterally relative to the frame, ano serving at the same time to move the tongue to the limit of its motion vertically relative to the frame.

18. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, a tongue mounted on said frame and adapted to swing both laterally and vertically relative thereto, a bracket swingingly mounted relative to said frame, a link connected with said bracket and adapted to move angularly relative thereto, a bar on said tongue having an' opening in which said llnk 1s slidably -mounted, means for limiting the upward sliding movement of said link relative to said bar, means for swinging said bracket relative to sald frame servmg through the of said bracket to limit the upward move ment of the rear end portion of said tongue relative to said frame, and means carried by the bracket for holding the link against lateral movement.

19. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, a tongue mounted on said frame and adapted to swing both laterally and vertically relative thereto, a bracket swingingly mounted relative to said frame, a link connected with said bracket and adapted to move angularly relative thereto, a bar on said tongue having an opening in which said link is slidably mounted, means for limiting the upward sliding movement of said link relative to said bar,means for swinging said bracket relative to said frame serving through the medium of said link to raise the rear end portion of the tongue relative to the frame, an arm on said bracket adapted upon the swinging movement of said bracket to be brought into contact with said bar for limit ing the upward movement of the rear end portion of the tongue relative to said frame, and means carried by the bracket for holding the link against lateral movement.

WILLIAM S. GRAHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

